Cowboys Down (39 page)

“Coffee?” his mom asked, walking toward him with a steaming mug.

“Thanks. Guests in the hot tub?”

“Yep.”

The Neilson Ranch wasn’t ideally placed for ski vacations, but the journey to Jackson was doable with the right transport. He’d convinced his father to invest in a better vehicle and they’d marketed themselves as a place to cross-country ski, snowmobile, hunt and snowshoe. Calum had just come back from hauling guests to Yellowstone. The group of married couples had talked on the way back about sitting in the hot tub drinking champagne while the snow fell around them, and Calum wished— He shook the thought off.

“I had to call the vet. About Blue.”

Calum straightened. “What’s the matter with him?”

“Gunner said he was listless, not wanting to feed, generally out of sorts.”

Like I’ve been.

His mom sighed. “I didn’t want to worry you over nothing, but the vet’s still here.”

Calum handed his coffee back and put on his hat.

“Bring him in for a bite to eat,” she said as he hurried out.

The wind whipped the snow across his face and Calum tucked his head down into his coat as he trudged over to the stables. He slid the door open just enough to slip inside and then closed it.

“Frank?” Calum called.

“Here.”

The muffled voice came from the direction of Blue’s stall. Calum headed down there.
Oh God, if there’s anything wrong with Blue…

“Hello.”

A guy in a long gray coat stepped out of Blue’s stall and Calum’s heart stopped.

“Jasper?” he gasped. “Oh fuck, am I seeing things?”

Calum’s knees shook and as he staggered, Jasper caught him.

“What…how…fuck,” Calum mumbled. He looked over at his horse. “This was just a trick to get me out here? Mom said the vet… Oh God, I can’t believe you’re here. I’ve missed you so much.”

Jasper ran his thumb over Calum’s lips. “Frank’s given me a part-time job. I’m registered at Laramie. I have some credit for what I’ve already studied but I plan to continue my vet training here in the States.”

“Laramie’s three hundred miles away.”

“That’s not better than five thousand?”

“Fuck it.” Calum wrapped his arms around Jasper and kissed him, inhaled the scent of him, drank in the taste of him, felt the hardness of him even through their coats.

When he pulled back, he still couldn’t believe it. “Did Mom know?” he asked.

“Not until today.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Jasper smiled. “I wanted it to be the biggest surprise of your life.”

Calum laughed. “Congratulations.” He swallowed hard. “What about your mom?”

“A plane ride away. She’s getting worse. Fintan said he’d keep an eye on her. I don’t mean to sound selfish, but we only get one chance at life, and I don’t think the mother I once had would want me to give up mine.”

“God. So Blue’s okay?”

Jasper laughed. “Blue’s fine.”

“Fuck.” Calum took a deep breath. “You’re supposed to come into the house for a bite to eat. You’re staying here, right?”

“If you’ll have me. I start after Christmas at Laramie. I need to rent a house. I thought you could help me look. Maybe I could live there in the week and come here at the weekend?”

“Oh fuck.”

“Is that all you can say?” Jasper asked.

“You’ve had months to get used to this. I feel like I’ve slid down a rainbow.”

“Ah yes, talking of that, I’ve brought a check with me from Fintan for a hundred thousand dollars. He upped the prices on those pieces you took to London and sold them all.”

“Oh my God.” Calum gulped. “A hundred thousand?”

“He’s pissed off he didn’t ask more.”

Calum almost choked.

“The market’s huge. He’s talking of going to Europe with more pieces for an exhibition. Wants to know what else you’ve got and if you’ll go. He still has that bronze in the window, but when I showed him the sculpture you’d left, he almost hyperventilated. That’s his new favorite. Mine too. He called it
Cowboys Getting Down
.”

“Christ.”

Jasper took a deep breath. “Something else I need to tell you. I spoke to your father this afternoon.”

Calum grabbed his hand and held it. “That you’re still here says something. Tell me he didn’t yell or say something sexist.”

“We had a long chat,” Jasper said. “I told him about Ben and my father, and how I felt about you. I know I’m not what he would have chosen for you, but I pointed out it wasn’t his choice to make. I think he’ll tolerate me, maybe one day he’ll smile at me. He seemed impressed Frank had given me a job and that I was going to study in Wyoming.”

Jasper shivered and Calum tugged him to the door. “You need proper gear to wear, not a London coat, though it’s turning me on big time.” He turned to look at Jasper. “You did bring your ties?”

“Yep.” Jasper laughed.

They left the barn and headed for the ranch, snow still falling heavily.

“Course, when I decided where I’d like to study, I didn’t know it was so damn cold,” Jasper said. “Maybe I should have gone to California. Probably not too late to change.”

Calum growled and leapt at him, knocking him to the ground. They rolled around in the snow, laughing. Calum’s Stetson blew away and Jasper stuffed a handful of snow down his neck and in return received a handful down his.

Eventually, Calum pinned him down and landed a wet kiss on his lips. “I know what you’ve given up for me. Thank you.”

“California sun. But it wouldn’t have been the same without you there.”

“You’ve made me so happy.”

Jasper smiled and licked a melting snowflake from his lips.

“I’m cold and I’m wet,” Jasper said.

“Is that right? Sounds like you need a shower, cowboy.”

Jasper’s smile widened. “Want to wash my back?”

Calum tugged him to his feet. “And your front.”

He slung his arm over Jasper’s shoulder as they headed for the ranch.

Note to self: Now that I have him, don’t ever let him go.

Jasper’s heart was so full, he wondered if it could burst. All those weeks waiting for paperwork to be sorted, for the right people to say yes—it had all been worth it to see that look on Calum’s face.

Note to self: Now that I have him, don’t ever let him go.

About the Author

Barbara Elsborg lives in West Yorkshire in the north of England. She always wanted to be a spy, but having confessed to everyone without them even resorting to torture, she decided it was not for her. Vulcanology scorched her feet. A morbid fear of sharks put paid to marine biology. So instead, she spent several years successfully selling cyanide.

After dragging up two rotten, ungrateful children and frustrating her sexy, devoted, wonderful husband (who can now stop twisting her arm) she finally has time to conduct an affair with an electrifying plugged-in male, her laptop.

Her books feature quirky heroines and bad boys, and she hopes they are as much fun to read as they are to write.

Visit at
www.barbaraelsborg.com
or
barbaraelsborg.blogspot.com
.

Look for these titles by Barbara Elsborg

Coming Soon:

Worlds Apart

When the boat’s a’rockin’, don’t come knockin’!

Barging In

© 2011 Josephine Myles

Out-and-proud travel writer Dan Taylor can’t steer a boat to save his life, but that doesn’t stop him from accepting an assignment to write up a narrowboat holiday. Instead of a change of pace from city life, though, the canal seems dull as ditchwater. Until he crashes into the boat of a half-naked, tattooed, pierced man whose rugged, penniless appearance is at odds with a posh accent.

Still smarting from past betrayal, Robin Hamilton’s “closet” is his narrowboat, his refuge from outrageous, provocative men like Dan. Yet he can’t seem to stop himself from rescuing the hopelessly out-of-place city boy from one scrape after another. Until he finds himself giving in to reluctant attraction, even considering a brief, harmless fling.

After all, in less than a week, Dan’s going back to his London diet of casual hook-ups and friends with benefits.

Determined not to fall in love, both men dive into one week of indulgence…only to find themselves drawn deep into an undertow of escalating intimacy and emotional intensity. Troubled waters neither of them expected…or wanted.

After all, it’s not like he’s in love with Luke anymore. Right?

Warning: Contains one lovable tart, one posh boy gone feral, rough sex, alfresco sex, vile strawberry-flavoured condoms, intimate body piercings, red thermal long-johns, erotic woodchopping, an errant cat, a few colourful characters you wouldn't touch with a bargepole, and plenty of messing about on the river.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Barging In:

Robin caught Dan’s eye, and it was like he’d been captured by the current, pulled in against his will. It wasn’t fair. Someone like Dan shouldn’t have eyes that beautiful. He was mesmerised by the flecks of green and amber and that band of ginger freckles sprinkled across the bridge of his nose.

And then, before Robin could say anything else, Dan pulled him into a kiss. His lips pressed hot and soft against Robin’s. Perhaps it was the effect of the pint he’d just had on an empty stomach; perhaps it was the sweet, musky scent rising from Dan’s body; or perhaps it was simply the relief of being saved from Charles’s advances. Whatever it was, against his better judgment Robin sank into the kiss, parting his

Dan slid his tongue into Robin’s mouth and made a delightful discovery. Not only did Robin have rings through his nipples, but there was a barbell through his tongue as well. Dan moaned as the metal ball made contact with his palate, his tongue. There was a tiny click every time it clashed against his teeth. God, he wanted that hot mouth around his dick so fucking badly. It had been a while since he’d had head from a bloke with a pierced tongue. Wonder if he had piercings anywhere more intimate?

He stretched on his toes to deepen the kiss, wound his arms around Robin’s neck and pressed against him, body to body. Robin must be able to feel how much he wanted him, what with the way his prick was starting to harden and rub against Robin’s thigh. He rocked his hips to emphasise the point.

Robin froze and started to pull back from the kiss.

Dan thought fast. He couldn’t lose his advantage now. Not when he had Robin exactly where he wanted him. He sank back onto his heels, gave his sultriest smile and took one of Robin’s unresisting hands, lacing their fingers together.

“Come on, gorgeous, we’re running late.” He tugged Robin after him and headed for the door, turning to call back to the old geezer with the Robin fixation. “Thanks for looking after him for me. He gets into all sorts of trouble when I’m not there to keep an eye on him.”

The pub door swung shut behind them. Dan led Robin around the corner and found a large pillar in the shadows outside a closed shop to push him up against. Robin was still dazed, his eyes hooded and his jaw slack. Yeah, that had been a great kiss. Guys were always telling him he had a talented tongue, and seeing what it had done to Robin made him swell with pride. He dropped his hands to Robin’s hips and purred seductively.

“Now, where were we?”

Robin made an alarmed sound in his throat and pulled back slightly, his body trembling. Dan gave a delighted smile. Surely the big guy wasn’t out of his depth, was he? But yes, fear lurked in his eyes.

“No need to worry, you’re in safe hands. I’ve done this plenty of times before.”

It was as if the words broke the spell his kiss had cast. Robin’s eyes widened, and his body stiffened, but not in the place Dan wanted it to.

“How many times?”

“What?”

“How many times have you done
this
before?” Robin snarled, pushing Dan away with a shove to his chest. “You make a habit of picking up strange men, do you?”

Oh God, it was back to Mr. Shouty again, was it? “You’re not that strange. I even know your surname, which is more than I do with some guys.” He’d been aiming for light banter, but the disgust on Robin’s face made him realise he’d misjudged. Dan backpedalled. “I dunno, you just seemed like you needed a hand, and I knew I owed you one, and then I couldn’t help myself, you looked so delicious.”

“Yeah, well… I was doing fine by myself, thank you very much.”

“Didn’t look like it from where I was standing. You looked like you were struggling with how to let the guy down without being rude. That’s always a recipe for disaster. Best to be honest and get it all out in the open.” Dan grinned, but it didn’t seem to make an impression on his quarry.

“What makes you think I wasn’t interested in him? I suppose someone like you wouldn’t shag an old queen like him if he were the last man on earth, although you’d quite happily work your way through every sleazy little whore at a place like the Hussars.” Robin’s lip curled up in a sneer.